Al Noor Hospital introduces ‘dialysis treatment at home’

Abu Dhabi / Emirates Business

Al Noor Hospital Airport Road Branch has announced that it has recently introduced peritoneal dialysis, which is a form of dialysis that allows patients with impaired kidney function or those with complete kidney failure to receive their dialysis treatment in the comfort of their own homes.
Dialysis is usually delivered through two treatment modalities: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, both of which are effective methods for filtering harmful wastes and excess fluids from the blood. Hemodialysis uses a special machine and a filter to purify the blood through an access point that is surgically made to reach the blood vessels. Peritoneal dialysis, on the other hand, uses the lining of the abdominal cavity and a sterile cleansing fluid to perform the same job through a catheter that is also surgically placed in the stomach.
Dr. Ahmed Reda, Consultant Nephrologist at Al Noor Hospital Airport Road said: “The leading causes for renal failure are diabetes and hypertension. People with diabetes have high amounts of sugar in their blood because their body is not able to break down the sugar correctly. The high level of sugar in the body may damage the filtering units in the kidneys.” Dr. Reda added: “As for those who suffer from hypertension, elevated blood pressure causes the pressure in the small blood vessels in the kidneys to increase which may weaken and hinder their filtering function.”
“People who are diagnosed with end-stage renal disease will have to undergo renal dialysis or have kidney transplantation,” said Dr. Reda. “With the advancement in technology, eligible patients now have the choice to undergo dialysis treatment at a hospital or at home and we are here to help them make the right choices, train them on the method and support them throughout the process.”
“We take several factors into consideration when deciding on a treatment regimen for a patient which includes the functional state of their kidneys, their overall health condition, their personal preference and their overall situation,” concluded Dr. Reda.
Peritoneal dialysis is performed daily and offers several advantages to eligible patients: it can be performed at home, offers greater flexibility and independence, requires less restricted dietary guidelines and can be performed while the patient is sleeping at night, among many others.
In general, peritoneal dialysis is suitable for children, people who still have limited kidney function and those who do not suffer from other serious health problems. On the other hand, hemodialysis is recommended for people who have problems with their vision, suffer from brain or other serious illnesses.